Georgia on my mind: Bring us home, Ray

2 Responses to Georgia on my mind: Bring us home, Ray

1. Bill Wolfe says:

   January 8, 2021 at 12:44 am

   Two Ray Charles stories come to mind. First, when I saw him at the Universal Amphitheater in the early 1990s. He did a beautiful, deeply considered version of “Georgia On My Mind. After he finished, I did a quick calculation in my head: he recorded the song in 1960, so he’d been performing it for more than 30 years; estimating 200 concerts per years, that meant he’d performed the song more than 6,000 times. And he somehow still managed to make it sound newborn.

   Second, when I visited the Rock ‘n’ Roll Hall of Fame. There are interactive viewing screens where you can search for an artist, hear their music, and learn who their influences were. I was looking at one when I felt a tap on my side. Looking down, I saw a young boy, maybe six or seven, who asked me how to use the screen. I was suddenly struck by the knowledge that this might be the first time this kid had been exposed to the music, so who should I play for him? I figured I couldn’t go wrong with Ray Charles, so I cued up “What’d I Say?” and handed the kid his headphones. A minute or so later, I looked over and saw he was dancing in place in front of his viewer. That was a genuinely happy moment for me, for which I’ll always be grateful to Ray.

   Reply
   • sheila says:

     January 14, 2021 at 12:48 pm

     // he recorded the song in 1960, so he’d been performing it for more than 30 years; estimating 200 concerts per years, that meant he’d performed the song more than 6,000 times. And he somehow still managed to make it sound newborn. //

     That is just incredible. What a pro.

     // A minute or so later, I looked over and saw he was dancing in place in front of his viewer. That was a genuinely happy moment for me, //

     That is so beautiful!

     Reply

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